Some years can make it challenging to whittle down the best movies to just 10, but I have to say that it came pretty easily for 2018. With that said, here are my picks, in alphabetical order.
“Black Panther”: Not only a Marvel movie, a marvel OF a movie, becoming something of a cultural milestone.
“BlacKkKlansman”: Spike Lee back at top form as a filmmaker, with the compelling true story of a policeman's Ku Klux Klan infiltration.
“First Man”: The story of Neil Armstrong worked as both a space-age saga and a compelling portrait of a somewhat reluctant hero.
“Incredibles 2”: It was a long wait for this animated Disney-Pixar sequel, but it was well worth it.
"Mary Poppins Returns": A remarkably good sequel, when plenty of odds were against it, more than 50 years later.
“Mission: Impossible – Fallout”: How Tom Cruise will top this edition is anyone’s guess. This was just fabulous action-adventure, also saluting the series’ history.
“A Quiet Place”: John Krasinski proved himself as a director with this thriller, with mighty assists from the sound crew and his wife, Emily Blunt.
“A Simple Favor”: Strong roles for both Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, and a sly script, made this an underrated winner.
“A Star Is Born”: A time-tested plot received a very fresh update from the teaming of Bradley Cooper, also the film’s first-time director, and Lady Gaga.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”: This hugely affecting profile of children’s-show icon Fred, or “Mister,” Rogers reaffirmed what an audience draw and box-office success a documentary can be.
And there you have them… my 10 Best for 2018. Here’s hoping for more good movies, and all good things, in 2019.